Fortune telling goat completes unique line up for Langside 450 event

Dawn Renton

Published:08:00Monday 23 April 2018

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The Southside is gearing up for a free family event marking the 450th anniversary of the Battle of Langside on May 12 and 13.

Local organisations Langside Community Heritage, Inhouse CIC and Inherit have curated an intriguing two day programme of events to commemorate and celebrate the heritage of the area in special Southside style.

Queens Park Arena is the hub of the events and will host a range of live music and entertainment on both days - see the website for details of the line-up.

On Sunday, MSP’s Nicola Sturgeon and James Dornan will welcome a colourful procession of residents and organisations at the arena.

The procession will have wound its way past the Battlefield monument and through the park to the sounds of a trumpet fanfare written by Scottish Composer of the Year, Gaynor Barradell.

A specially commissioned theatre piece by Baldy Bane involving a cast of local school children will take place at 12.15pm on the 12th and 2.15pm on the 13th.

On Sunday Historic Environment Scotland, National Trust for Scotland and Archaeology Scotland will provide fun activities based around archaeology and traditional crafts.

The packed programme will include falconry, appearances by Mary Queen of Scots, the Laird of Langsyde and of course Billy Bowler, the fortune telling goat.

Throughout the weekend themed food and drink will be on offer, and craft stalls with local makers will present their wares.

History buffs will be informed and entertained by a number of talks by local historians including Lost Glasgow’s Norrie Wilson who will be speaking about the history of events in Queens Park. An exhibition and booklet on the battle with a self led guided tour will be available from Langside Library from the start of May and at the arena on the weekend.

The two day event has a social message behind its curation.

Dr Alan Leslie, Inherit said: “The events themselves are inspired by the 450th anniversary of the Battle of Langside, but the key reason for the event was to provide an opportunity for local people of all ages and backgrounds to work together, around the themes of peace, tolerance and integration. “Focused around Queens Park, the event is a real opportunity to draw on the collective strength to be found in the communities surrounding the park and to celebrate the area’s diversity and interconnected heritage traditions.

Langside 450 owes much to a wide range of people who have contributed their time, energy and skills to make it happen. But organising an event of this complexity is not easy, special thanks are therefore due to Inhouse, an events management company with responsibility for Queens Park Arena, who have pitched in from their own resources, standing back where possible to allow participants to learn from the experience and stepping in when needed to keep things on track.”

Kirsty Hood, director of Inhouse CIC and event manager for Langside 450 said: “It’s been a brilliant project to be involved in, a true community led event with content shaped by Langside Community Heritage, a group whose membership age ranges from 10 - 85. We hope that Langside 450 will be thoroughly enjoyed by all the diverse communities that live in the area, and will be a fitting start to Queens Park Arena’s 2018 program of events.”

Visit www.facebook.com/events/175476986506361/ for more details.

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